Three Israelis were killed and more than 20 wounded in the latest round of terror violence on Tuesday, which was declared a “Day of Rage” by Palestinian organizations. Two Palestinian terrorists shot and stabbed Israelis on a bus in Jerusalem, killing two men and wounding 15 more. In a second incident, a terrorist rammed his vehicle into a crowd of Israelis in central Jerusalem, killing a 60-year-old rabbi, and then proceeded to exit his car and stab any Israelis still standing. Six people were injured in the attack. There were two stabbing attacks in Ra’anana in which five Israelis were wounded. State Department Spokesperson John Kirby said in a statement, “The United States condemns in the strongest terms today’s terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.” On Monday, former Secretary of State and Democratic candidate for President Hillary Clinton issued a statement condemning the terrorism: “I am alarmed by the recent wave of attacks against Israelis…My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Men and women living in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and elsewhere cannot carry groceries or travel to prayer without looking over their shoulder.”

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has systematically attempted to deny Jewish ties to Jerusalem and the Temple Mount more specifically, and accused Israel of attempting to destroy the al-Aqsa Mosque. Before the Knesset Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged PA President Mahmoud Abbas, “Stop lying. Stop inciting. If the situation deteriorates as a result of this incitement…you will bear responsibility.” In a conference call with The Israel Project on Tuesday, MK Yair Lapid said, “This all has to do with the terrible incitement coming both from Islamic groups here in Israel and the Palestinian Authority claiming that Israel is somehow trying to change the status quo on the Temple Mount and in Jerusalem.” On Tuesday, The Times of Israel reported that Arab governments, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, had called on Abbas to rein in the violence. Last month, Abbas said that Jews “have no right to desecrate” the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre “with their filthy feet.” He continued: “Each drop of blood…spilled in Jerusalem is pure blood as long as it’s for the sake of Allah.” Last Wednesday, members of the Fatah Central Council, including Abbas, “saluted” Palestinians for “rising to defend their al-Aksa Mosque and confronting terrorist settlers.” The next day, Abbas said that his “hands are with those who are protecting al-Aqsa Mosque.”

The mayor of Nazareth, Israel’s largest majority-Arab city, blasted Arab members of Knesset in interviews on Sunday, blaming them for inciting riots and violence.Over 200 residents of Nazareth rioted on Thursday night, setting fires and throwing rocks at security forces. Ayman Odeh, the chairman of the Joint (Arab) List party, was present at the protest before he was told to leave by Nazareth Mayor Ali Salem. In an interview on Israel’s Channel Two, Salem yelled again at Odeh, saying, “You destroyed the city. Get out of here.”

Salem also told Army Radio on Sunday that Arab leaders “are destroying our future, they are destroying coexistence.” He noted that while he disapproves of Israeli policy towards the Temple Mount, protests must be made in an appropriate manner. “We need to find a way to live together,” he told the popular news website Walla. “We cannot fight like this. We are damaging ourselves.”

“Commerce, economy and tourism in the city of Nazareth will be damaged after such events,”Salem said in an interview with Kul al-Arab, Israel’s most popular Arabic newspaper. “Tourists will think a hundred times before visiting the city. Patriotic positions are not [expressed] in such a manner.” (via TheTower.org)

Israel’s leading role in medical-device, biotechnology and agricultural innovation is now expanding to the emerging science of functional foods. A new collaboration between Rutgers University in New Jersey and Tel-Hai College in Israel’s Galilee region will focus on formulating advanced edibles to tackle obesity and to manage diabetes, food allergies and other nutrition-related issues spiking to epidemic proportions in developed countries. The New Jersey-Israel Healthy, Functional and Medical Foods Alliance will support scientific research, technology commercialization, startup incubation and “a world-class business cluster for the development of the healthy, functional and medical foods industry” in both Israel and New Jersey, according to a memorandum of understanding signed on September 18 at the Rutgers Food Innovation Center, a business incubation and economic development program. “Functional foods” are defined as having a health benefit beyond basic nutrition, while “medical foods” are meant to be consumed or administered under a physician’s care. The related field of botanical drugs, also to be explored through the academic and business exchange, consists of vegetable, plant, plant algae or fungi to provide health and medical benefits. (via Israel21c)